Fifteen years after his first spell at the Santiago Bernabéu, José Mourinho is back in charge of Real Madrid as the club looks to end Barcelona's two-year stranglehold on La Liga. The Portuguese manager, who guided Madrid to a 100-point title in his debut season, returns at the invitation of club president Florentino Pérez, who pledged to reinstall him if re-elected in June's snap elections and confirmed the move on the opening day of the World Cup.
Mourinho's return follows a turbulent period for Madrid. After Xabi Alonso was dismissed in January, the club drifted through the rest of the campaign under Álvaro Arbeloa, marked by an ugly training-ground clash between Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni that left Valverde needing stitches. Madrid then surrendered the title to Barcelona in the clásico and finished the season without a trophy, while an online petition demanding Kylian Mbappé's exit gathered some 30 million signatures amid uncertainty over Vinícius Júnior's future.
This summer has been far calmer. Mourinho started working with the squad a month before his contract officially began and has avoided the media spotlight, skipping a formal unveiling and any preseason tour, instead overseeing low-key friendlies across Europe. "It's not about working at Real Madrid, it is working for Real Madrid," he said in a brief in-house interview.
Crucially, Vinícius has committed his future to the club with a new six-year contract, with Madrid describing him as "one of the most important players in one of the most successful periods" in the club's history. The Brazilian said getting to know Mourinho "has gone very well," adding: "Mourinho wants me to be as I have always been: happy, cheerful and playing my football."
Mourinho now must integrate Vinícius, Mbappé and Jude Bellingham alongside new signings including Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries and towering striker Carlos Espí. The headline arrival is winger Yan Diomandé, signed for £115m to become the most expensive player in club history after impressing at the World Cup with Côte d'Ivoire. Diomandé, who made his professional debut against Madrid at the Bernabéu for Leganés in March 2025, wrote movingly in the Players' Tribune this summer about his late sister Roxane, who died after her drink was spiked at a party shortly after his debut.
Despite the momentum, not everything has gone Madrid's way — a £129m offer for Julián Álvarez was rejected by Atlético Madrid, and Barcelona appear to be edging closer to signing Manchester City's Rodri.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Diego Simeone begins his 15th full season at Atlético, who have rebuilt after Antoine Griezmann's departure by bringing in Lee Kang-in from Paris Saint-Germain, handing him the vacated No 7 shirt. Manuel Pellegrini continues at Real Betis, while Villarreal have turned to Iñigo Pérez following his impressive work at Rayo Vallecano. Real Sociedad's Pellegrino Matarazzo will look to build on the club's Copa del Rey success, and Athletic Club have appointed German coach Edin Terzic — the club's first German boss since Jupp Heynckes in 2003.
Promoted sides Racing Santander, Deportivo La Coruña and Málaga also return to the top flight, with Racing welcoming back Sergio Canales, who left the club for Mourinho's Madrid in 2010 and is now back at 35. "I'm still struggling to believe this is real," Canales said.
Barcelona, however, remain favourites to retain their crown. Robert Lewandowski has left for MLS, leaving a void up front, while Anthony Gordon has arrived to compete with Raphinha on the left. Much will again depend on 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, fresh off winning the World Cup, as Hansi Flick chases a third consecutive league title to match Pep Guardiola's achievement. The first clásico of the season is scheduled for late October at Camp Nou.
Because several top clubs' players were involved in the extended World Cup, the league season kicks off unevenly, with Getafe's clash at Alavés opening proceedings.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.